Unboxed: The Rolling Stones in Mono

Check out this brand new video which unboxes the forthcoming The Rolling Stonesin Mono box set in anticipation of its 30 September release date…
The box sets are available to pre-order as 15CD or 16LP vinyl collections. Both contain 14 studio albums plus Stray Cats, a newly compiled collection of songs from singles and EPs issued in the 1960s. In total, The Rolling Stones in Mono delivers 186 tracks.

The Rolling Stones (UK)
1.Route 66
2.I Just Want To Make Love To You
3.Honest I Do
4.Mona (I Need You Baby)
5.Now I’ve Got A Witness
6.Little By Little
7.I’m A King Bee
8.Carol
9.Tell Me
10.Can I Get A Witness
11.You Can Make It If You Try
12.Walking The Dog

12 x 5
1.Around And Around
2.Confessin’ The Blues
3.Empty Heart
4.Time Is On My Side
5.Good Times, Bad Times
6.It’s All Over Now
7.2120 South Michigan Avenue
8.Under The Boardwalk
9.Congratulations
10.Grown Up Wrong
11.If You Need Me
12.Susie Q

Out Of Our Heads (US)
1.Mercy Mercy
2.Hitch Hike
3.The Last Time
4.That’s How Strong My Love Is
5.Good Times
6.I’m All Right
7.(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
8.Cry To Me
9.The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
10.Play With Fire
11.The Spider And The Fly
12.One More Try

Flowers
1.Ruby Tuesday
2.Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?
3.Let’s Spend The Night Together
4.Lady Jane
5.Out Of Time
6.My Girl
7.Back Street Girl
8.Please Go Home
9.Mother’s Little Helper
10.Take It Or Leave It
11.Ride On, Baby
12.Sittin’ On A Fence

Their Satanic Majesties Request
1.Sing This All Together
2.Citadel
3.In Another Land
4.2000 Man
5.Sing This All Together (See What Happens)
6.She’s A Rainbow
7.The Lantern
8.Gomper
9.2000 Light Years From Home
10.On With The Show

80 responses to Unboxed: The Rolling Stones in Mono

Loving the Rolling Stones in Mono Box Set so far. However, when I reached Beggars’ Banquet, I discovered that it included Disc 1 of the Stray Cats 2LP included in the box instead of the Beggars’ Banquet record. Whom do I contact to get this rectified? Thanks, PJ

After going through the CD box visually and musically, I came up with some pros and cons.
PROS – The sound is absolute top! Clean, bright, deep and extremely well balanced. You can hear Bill’s bass coming through and Charlie’s drums are also right there. All instruments are at the same level and working as a unit. Also, a bit of that annoying dirt like echo-ish reverb is gone! I like the cardboard type covers and the glossiness. The thick outer plastic sleeves protect the covers really well. The box itself is well made, sturdy and the front flap with the magnetic seal is a nice, sophisticated touch.
CONS – The absence of inner sleeves for TSMR and LiB. The absence of the LiB poster. The CD labels are so so. Decca and London are printed, but are a far cry from the original labels. No Decca or London on front and back covers. No fold over flaps, (although some pressings in the 60’s were released without the flaps). The booklet is rather thin and doesn’t give you much information about the individual records. Some of the pictures are extremely dark. You can tell that no original artwork was used. More a copy of a copy.
FINAL VERDICT – All focus was directed at getting the best sound quality back on these records and to give the listeners a feast for the ears. That was accomplished. But, from the beginning it was clear that something had to give and it seems that ABKO / Universal were not very concerned with the looks of this box or to give us a full journey back. Not only musically but visually. In terms of presentation The Beatles Mono won this one. In terms of sound, it’s a draw.

I’m sure hardcore Stones fans can find plenty of upsides with this set, but a big downside is… duplication! Out of curiosity, I did a song count, and found 40 songs that are present on two or more albums in this set. Thoroughly unnecessary, in my opinion, even when taking sentimental value into account.

The full list, for verification purposes (I may have missed a few):

Route 66
Mona (I Need You Baby)
Time Is On My Side
Under the Boardwalk
Grown Up Wrong
Susie Q
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
Down Home Girl
You Can’t Catch Me
What a Shame
Down the Road Apiece
Pain in My Heart
Off the Hook
Heart of Stone
Oh, Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’)
Mercy Mercy
Hitch Hike
That’s How Strong My Love Is
Good Times
Cry to Me
The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
She Said Yeah
Gotta Get Away
Talkin’ ‘Bout You
I’m Free
Mother’s Little Helper
Stupid Girl
Lady Jane
Under My Thumb
Doncha Bother Me
Going Home
Flight 505
High and Dry
Out of Time
It’s Not Easy
I Am Waiting
Take It or Leave It
Think
Back Street Girl
Please Go Home

Received my Japanese 7″ edition and can confirm with significant disappointment that the Satanic Majesties 3D cover is NOT replicated. However, everything else about this release is spectacular, from image crops to inner sleeves to, most importantly, the vibrant audio. I was originally sceptical of the inclusion of Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed, but the “drop-down” mono is nowhere near as bothersome as I was led to believe it might be. Final verdict: as much as I hate to admit it, perhaps the domestic edition would have sufficed. This is an extremely overpriced set…the 2010 Greatest Albums from the 60s Japanese box seems like greater value overall (although with far too much duplicated
material).

Sound is punchy, centered and really together! Awesome job! But, can somebody explain to me why they cropped the picture for TSMR?!! What is the reason behind that? Paul and George’s faces are obviously missing!

I have this value for money set, maybe some of the details have been overlooked ie Decca/London markings on the covers and any inner original sleeves/ posters etc. When you consider that you are paying £105.00 for 16 discs you get all the Decca era albums as originally released in mono I think it is well worth having. The mono sound mastering is excellent as is the 48 booklet. The Beatles in Mono is a better package by far with replica inner paper sleeves, and plus for authenticity the black paper sleeves for the White Album. But all in all a good collection

Michael, Rare Glam, thanks for the information. Was seriously having second thoughts on this (wont get mine from Amazon until next week), but from what you are saying it looks like the UK version is someway towards a decent attempt presentation wise. I had almost pulled the trigger on a Japanese version.

Hey Dave. Yes. The box looks good and sound is worth it. But I wouldn’t spend over €300 (Germany) on the vinyl version. I also had the japanese 7″ release in mind, but that would have been close to €350. I’m happy I decided on the CD’s.

Have not listen to the CD’s yet. I agree with Rare Glam. A nice sturdy and glossy presentation overall. Two minus points though. As mentioned in Glam’s review, the missing inner sleeves for TSMR and Let it Bleed. Truly a shame. I was not expecting the LiB poster, but the sleeves wouldn’t be so hard to include here. The second “issue” is the extremely dark quality of some of the covers. Between the Buttons is so dark, Keith’s face is almost unrecognizable. You can tell that some pictures were made from a copy from a copy from a copy. Will see about the sound quality that was so highly spoken of in the media.

I ordered mine (CD box) from HMV (UK only alas). It was sent yesteray 29th and arrived today 30th Sept, 1st class tracked fo £120. I’ve not played it yet, but I can at least confirm the physical quality of the set

The CD box is about 25% wider than the Beatles in Mono box, so a cube. It is of the same stong, glossy card construction as well. The lid is a flip over, like a satchel (as depicted in the CGI vid) and has a small concealed magnet to keep it closed at the bottom of the flap. Overall, this is a very pleasing box aesthetically.

I’m in the UK and the sleeves are all very well made. Not textured especially, but well made and glossy (like the Roxy Music set if you have that) . They are Japanese mini LP CD size and come with transparent plastic inner sleeves and they most certainly don’t fall out of the sleeves. Quite the reverse, it’s a bit awkward to manipulate them in and out until you get used them.

The CD labels are all red Decca (UK) or London (USA) repros apart from the ‘Stray Cats’ set whic uses the same red typeface / label format but has ‘abko’ instead.

HSMR is the printed sleeve not the 3D one, but was expecting that. Both HSMR and Beggar’s Banquet are gatefolds , but don’t include the poster in BB or the blue patterned inner sleeve on HSMR

Each disc has its own resealable outer sleeve. These though are rather crude PVC and have the sticky seal on the reverse of the foldover flap rather than across the back of the sleeve like the Japanee ones do. This means the CD sleeve can become stuck on the sticky seal when removing. Not badly though so don’t worry. I use the proper Japanese ones and will re-home my set with these.

Overall, this is a very good looking set, much better than I had feared. It certainly wouldn’t look like a poor relation next to the Beatles in Mono box that’s for sure. Now to play it!

Hey Alan. That’s not right. I kind of understand, because I’ve waited until yesterday to place my order I’m probably all the way in the back of the waiting line. But an order placed in August and nothing? That is annoying. Hopefully the quality of this box makes up for the waiting. I canceled my amazon this morning and will buy it at a shop here in town.

So I ordered the CD box yesterday on amazon Germany. And as a prime member I was expecting the box at the day of release. This was also what amazon was saying until now. Checkimg my order this morning and suddenly all the versions of the mono box will be shippable in 1 to 3 months!!! What?! So, no boxes available in Germany?? Does anyone know what’s happening here?

Yeah, but what if Teri Landi is right and the rest of the records sound better here than anywhere else. There are some lovely, historic records on this boxset, even discarding Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed.

No argument there at all Rodrigo for the things that are in “true” mono. But then why take two of the best stones records ever made and completely destroy the sound of them by doing something as unholy as folding down stereo mixes, claiming them to be “mono” and then charging people money (roughly $13 per) for these discs. Do you really want to listen to “Monkey Man” from an inferior stereo fold down you just paid money for, heck no. It makes no sense at all in what is supposed to be a “Mono” box other than to pad out the set with these two very popular records in order to attract more sales which = more $$. I already own the Abkco released SACD box set from 2004 and those sound pretty darn amazing to me, the DSD transfers for that set is what this current mono box is sourced from. I think I will sit out this “mono” box and wait for more Crimson, Tull, YES & XTC 5.1 surround stuff…woohoooo!

Both Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed are fold-downs of the stereo mixes, which are sure to sound like absolute crap. Except for the mono Sympathy mix, it should be interesting to see what has happened to all the low end (as in weird as heck) from these fold-downs. When you electronically combine equal amplitude & tone from two channels that are in phase (bass, kick drum & snare in a stereo mix) you get a result that is basically twice as loud as the original. So they fold down the stereo mixes and then in mastering EQ out all of the bottom end build up by combining what are true stereo mixes, not so brilliant at all. Who cares what the packaging is like at that point…

I am so sad about the missing Decca label on the front covers (and the London label for that matter)
And I am so intrigued about the LPs’ center labels. Please give me some Decca and London there.
The only picture out there is not clear enough to see what is written on those red labels. Such a shame, that Michael Fremer did not pull one record out on his video.
In my case, the missing labels on the front would be enough reason not to buy. It is just that they are talking so stupendously about the audio quality.

thanks for the answer. That’s nice to hear. Nevertheless I was thinking particulary about the 2 albums that have art on their inners (TSMR and Let It Bleed). Hope those two will include the original inners (and not just standard inners). Michael Fremer’s unboxing video does show Let It Bleed original inner, (happily). Hope Canada will not differ on that…

I’m sure you’ll get the Let it Bleed and TSMR inner sleeves. What is not incl. is the Let it Bleed poster. That comes only with the Japanese 7″ format. The japanese version respected every detail, even the flip backs. Now the missing Decca label on the front covers apply to all releases.

Pre-order cancelled and Japanese 7″ box ordered! I hate to take the financial hit but if I’m going to order what’s advertised as mini-LP replicas, I want mini-LP replicas! Couldn’t they have followed the lead of The Beatles Mono Box, or the Dylan Mono Box, where the covers and inserts were replicated beautifully? Surely the bars already been set for this box to follow!

Should I buy this 15-CD “Mono” box?
Or the 10-CD “In the Sixties” 2002 box?
Or the 16-CD “Remastered Series” 2002 box?
Or the 17-CD “Greatest Albums in the Sixties” japanese box from 2008?
Or anything else I don’t know about?

Where should I start? I like the Brian-Jones-era-Stones, but I only own a few best of (among which “Rolled Gold+” is the best). I would really like to get a more comprehensive collection of their albums in the sixties, but I really don’t know what to buy first…

Just what the punter needs another expensive collection of already issued songs,who thinks up these releases,do they receive a bonus as they wring out the last penny from hapless must have fans,who for their sins love the Stones and require every release under the sun.God help us when Jagger and Co start heading for their final release to the pearly gates.The sound of record company cash tills will be one mighty crescendo.Now the Beatles,thats another story…….

I just watched a video on Analog Planet from Michael Fremer unboxing the vinyl box set. Not much insight other than showing the covers and booklet. Still, nice to get some pre-release information. So, no fold overs, no 3D for TSMR (didn’t have high hopes for that one anyway),
no Let it Bleed poster and NO Decca label on any of the first UK albums.

Beggars Banquet was heard for over thirty years at a slower speed than it was recorded. This had the effect of altering not only the tempo of each song, but the song’s key as well. These differences were subtle but important, and the remastered version is about 30 seconds shorter than the original release.

Any news on the Stones box set anyone? I’d really like to know if they got the album covers right. Fold overs on the back, inner sleeves for TSMR and Let it Bleed and poster for Let it Bleed. Different textures between the UK and US versions. It seems that the CD version will be rather poor. You can’t get any updates, other then here really. I’m glad we have your site Paul! Thank you so much for keeping us on the forefront.

Once again Europe (Germany) gets offered it £64 cheaper than us mugs here in the UK. Thank you, Paul, for your price comparison tool which highlights these pricing policies and gives us all the opportunity to avoid being ripped off.

At http://www.cdjapan.co.jp (and then typing in “The Rolling Stones in mono” in the search field) you can order the CD Box. Price – $310 / €276 / £234. A bit more than the European/American release, but the CD’s come as faithfully replicated as it’s humanly or digitally possible! They even give you a full description of how each CD will look like. I’m seriously considering this version. I want to purchase the vinyl edition, but after reading all the negative stuff about the CD’s, I’m afraid of spending over €300 (vinyl box price in Germany) and get cheap replicas without any goodies.

Michael, I would spring for this myself in view of US Music Critics comments, but the 7″ sleeves put me off because of storage. Plus having preordered the normal version for £96 it is a big leap financially. No doubt though, given the usual quality and attention to detail with Japanese CDs, this will be the ultimate version.

ABKCO sent me the CD box (it’s the retail version, with a blacked out UPC) and I can confirm there are no inner sleeves and the CDs fall out quite easily. The outer sleeves are nothing special, either, and look and feel kinda chintzy. It’s disappointing given the price they’re charging.

For the price of the vinyl version, I’m expecting the psychedelic inner sleeve that came with TSMR and inner sleeve + poster from Let it Bleed. No high hopes for 3D image on front cover of TSMR. Hey Johnny, I read the sneak peak article too. I was negatively surprised that the CD’s will have no inner sleeves. I wonder if that applies only for regular protective paper sleeves or also for the TSMR sleeve and Let it Bleed poster. That would be a shame.

Yes, I’m now reconsidering my pre-order after reading the Billboard comment about there being no inner sleeves and the cds falling out. It may sound insignificant given this release is all about the sound but for the money I want this to be the same as the Beatles in Mono box set with the lovely repro packaging including inner and outer sleeves etc. Is there any way of finding out for sure?

I have some facts about this. US and Canada boxes – no inner sleeves, no outer seal. Rest of the World DOES get inner protective sleeves and an outer seal. I’ve had this confirmed by someone in the know.

I hope that this is an advance copy without full packaging. Was hoping for at least Japanese style PVCish jackets. These do ‘fall out’ if you remove the paper inner sleeves and store them seperatley like I do, but at least the CDs don’t get scratched.

According to the iTunes-page for the the preorder (which shows all the songs and times), it says that “Tell Me” lasts 3:49? Why is it important or problem?
Im thinking of buying possible cd or vinyl-edition but dunno as I don’t have too much of these 60’s albums in any format (I have the 70’s albums more here).

I hope that soon we’ll get something better to watch than a computer animation of a “mock-up”, and then we’ll see what the set’s Decca & London labels look like, not to mention whether the fabrication of the L.P. sleeves is reasonably similar to the UK & U.S.A. originals.
I’m realistic: we’re not going to get cellophane-laminated front sleeves on the UK albums. Maybe we’ll get a somewhat similar approximation, like in The Beatles mono vinyl box.

I think up until Aftermath the albums were mainly released in mono and can be found on CDs that have been previously issued, e.g. 2002 versions. The next few albums had unique mono and stereo mixes. Then Beggar’s Banquet is a fold down (except Sympathy), as is Let it Bleed. I think it is unlikely that there will be the same revelations as with The Beatles mono mixes. Satanic Majesties is pretty different though I think.

Hi Mark,
For the detail you are after, you need to look at the Hoffman forum on this, but be prepared to do plenty of reading. In a nutshell the early albums were in the main mono with a scattering of stereo tracks. Dependant on your collection you may have heard the bulk in mono anyway. From Aftermath they were stereo but unique mono mixes exist for Aftermath UK, Between the Buttons UK, TSMR (which is supposed to be as revelatory as Sgt Peppers in mono). Aftermath US, Beggars Banquet and LIB were fold downs from the stereo master. If anyone knows any different please feel free to correct.
What excites me about the box is the new mastering of the existing monos, the inclusion of the original UK No1 and No2 albums and the unique mono mixes of the later albums.
PS, agree about Pepper, never listen to the stereo now.

Hi Mark, I am curious where you hear guitar overdubs in the mono mix of Pepper that are absent in the stereo mix. I hear some additional organ overdubs in “Kite”, but apart from that I only hear mixing differences, like Paul’s screaming at the end of “Pepper reprise”. Maybe I should listen more carefully… which songs do you mean in particular?
The differences in the Stones’ mixes are really minor. Anyway there was no proper stereo album before Aftermath. I think the Stones’ mono mixes sound more aggressive and have more punch than some of the rather odd stereo mixing choices (tracks often panned far left or right).

Please NO Giles… If anyone at all should be remixing Pepper for 5.1 it should be Geoff Emerick who recorded and mixed the original album. The 5.1 mixes Giles created for the “Beatles 1+” collection were absolutely miserable. His “mixes” (since it’s only 3-track source material) of the new “Touring Years” CD don’t really impress much more than the original, again mixed by Mr. Emerick. He did ok on the “Love” CD but personally I think Giles should be banned from ever again touching anything “Beatles” related.

Looks very nice, would like to own but too expensive. Will wait and see what the overall verdict us and then hopefully the price will miraculously drop at some point. No hurry, I can wait until next year.